Instagram Introduces ‘PG-13’ Content Controls for Teen Users
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Key Points
- Meta introduces PG-13-level filters for all Instagram users under 18.
- New policies restrict posts with strong language, risky stunts, and harmful behaviors.
- Parents can tighten or loosen restrictions through new account controls.
Meta announced a major update to Instagram’s teen safety measures, introducing new “PG-13” guidelines that limit what underage users can see on the app. The changes automatically apply to anyone under 18, filtering out mature or suggestive material, strong language, and posts that promote risky behaviors such as drug use or dangerous stunts.
The new experience also blocks searches for self-harm or eating disorder content, restricts messaging with explicit material, and prevents teens from following accounts that regularly share age-inappropriate posts. Parents can adjust settings to make them stricter or more lenient, though teens can’t disable them without parental approval.
The move follows growing criticism of Instagram’s impact on young users and comes after reports of safety tool failures and exposure to harmful content. With roughly 54 million teen accounts worldwide, Meta hopes the new system—powered by its age prediction AI—will better protect minors while restoring trust in its platforms.
